Animated toy animal

ABSTRACT

A push type animal toy having an animal figure supported on a single wheel, and a handle attached to the back of the figure and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom in a wide ogee curve to simulate a slack leash, the handle composed of relatively stiff material whereby the toy may be pushed forwardly imitating the walking or trotting of the animal figure.

United States Patent 1191 Campion ANIMATED TOY ANIMAL [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1971 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner.l. Q. Lever [21] Appl' l80478 Attorney-J. Wesley Everett Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 833,368, June 16, [57 T CT I969, abandoned.

A push type animal toy having an animal figure sup- [52] U.S. Cl. 46/104, 272/8 R, 1 19/109 Ported a Single Wheel, and a handle attachgd to the 51] Int. Cl A63h 11/10 back of the figure and extending p y and [58] Field of Search 46/104, 123 Wardly therefrom in a Wide Ogee Curve to Simulate a slack leash, the handle composed of relatively stiff ma- 5 References Cited terial whereby the toy may be pushed forwardly imitat- U T STATES PATENTS ing the walking or trotting of the animal figure.

3,298,131 1/1967 Monahan 46/123 2 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures E p 1 |+-e 1 -6 1- \'6 2| l8 4 I 12 PAIENTED 3.760.532

sum 1 or 3 7 INVENTOR EDWARD s. CAMPION PATENTED 39251975 $760532 SHEET 2 BF 3 FIGS.

INVENTOR EDWARD G. CAMPION PAIENIED $760532 snmanrg FIG. l4.

INVENTOR EDWARD G. CAMPION BY ATT afwnwi- 1 ANIMATED TOY ANIMAL This invention is a continuation -in-part of the US. Pat. Ser. No. 833,368, filed June I6, 1969, now abandoned and relatesto toys and more specifically to toys of the type which simulate animals, not only in appearance but which may be manipulated to closely resemble animals in certain of their actions. In the instant case the animal may be a simulated dog on a leash as it would appear when walking with its master.

Heretofore there have been numerous animal toys, both of the push type and pull type, which have mechanism of more or lesscomplicated nature to simulate walking, but they have, to a great extent, lacked naturalness of appearance. In my device, however, the desired result is accomplished with the utmost simplicity of mechanism, a minimum of moving parts to get out of order and a durability which will result in long life. Briefly, the desired results are obtained by providing a handle attached to the animal figure which resembles a leash in slack condition, which handle is made prefer-v ably of resiliently flexible material.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to produce a toy animal which closely resembles a real animal in the act of walking and/or trotting.

Other objects are to produce such a toy which is simple in its construction with a minimum of moving parts and which may be economically manufactured.

The above and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as this description proceeds and reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. In said drawing FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an animal toy according to my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view with portions broken away to show internal details;

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 44 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a section'on line 5-5 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a section on line 66 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a section on line 77 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a section on line 88 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary-view partly in section, of one form of handle or leash portion showing its internal structure;

FIG. 10 is a side view of amodified form of the device with the outer cover removed;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section of the body portion of the modification of FIG. 10 on a larger scale;

FIG. 12 is a section online 12-12 ofFIG. 11 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a further modified form ofthe toy;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the toy shown inFIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a horizontal sectional view of the toy taken- FIG. 18 is an elevational view of the modified supporting wheel; and

FIG. 19 is an elevational view of a still further modification of the supporting wheel.

Referring to the drawing in more detail and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 9 thereof, 10 generally represents an animal figure at the end of a simulated leash which forms a handle 11.

The animal figure in the form illustrated is made to resemble a small dog wearing a blanket. The head of portion 12 of the figure may conveniently be made of yarn to form a nose, head and ears, although any other manner of forming the head may beemployed, and it may be made to resemble any of a wide variety of animals. The blanket or cover 13 is similar in appearance to those used for live pets and is preferably, but not necessarily, made of some colorful material such as plaid and is fashioned to completely cover what would be the body and neck of the animal and at its sides to hang close to the floor so as to hide the fact that the device completely lacks any legs.

Beneath the blanket or cover 13 and supporting the same is the main body 14 of the figure. The body 14 is of stiff material, such as sheet metal, plastic or the like, andis generally U-shaped in transverse section as may be seen in FIG. 4.

The head 12 of the figure is attached to the forward end of the body 14 by a bolt 15 and wing nut 16 passed through a hole in the body 14 and through a mounting bracket 17 attached to and extendingrearwardly from the head.

The bolt 15 and wing nut 16 may also be conveniently used to attach the yoke 18 which carries the single wheel 19 to enable the animal figure to be wheeled along the floor or ground. This yoke is made of wire bent in half to form a loop 20 at one end to surround and be held by the bolt 15. The two branches of the bent wire are extended rearwardly at 21 and then downwardly at 22 and spread apart to embrace the wheel 19 which is mounted on an axle bolt 23 mounted in loops 24 at the ends of the yoke. Extending the wire yoke rearwardly and then downwardly as described, gives a somewhat springy or resilient support of the animal figure on the supporting wheel.

It should be noted that the point of attachment for the leash handle to the body of the toy is offset longitudinally from the axis of the supporting wheel. It has been found that with this arrangement any slight sidewise wobbling motion given the handle at its upper end will be accentuated at the lower end thereof and almost imperceptible motion applied to the handle by the operator will have quite noticeable effect on the animal figure.

To complete the appearance of the animal represented, a tail 25 of flexible material appropriate in appearance to the animal simulated may be attached to the rear portion of the body 14 by any suitable means such as the metal clip means 26 shown. The tail may be brought out from its point of attachment to the body 14 through a hole 27 in the blanket or cover 13 as shown.

The handle 11, which is bent into a wide ogee curve as shown to resemble a leash in slack'condition, is attached to the body by means of an attachment plate 28 fastened to the end thereof and bolted'at 29 or otherwise secured to, the body 14 through the cover 13. The upper end of the leash simulating handle may be provided with a loop 30'as is customary on animal leashes.

The handle is of relatively stiff but resilient or springy material to enable it to be used to push the toy but at the same time manipulated to impart a sidewise wobbling motion to the toy to simulate the natural sidewise swaying motion animals have in walking.

One form of handle is shown in FIG. 9 and is composed of an inner spring wire 31 surrounded with a rubber like covering 32 which in turn is covered with a braided outer cover 33 to closely resemble a real leash.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show a somewhat simplified version of the toy in which the body 14' is similar to the body 14 of the first form described. It may be enclosed with a covering 13' to simulate a blanket or it may be surface decorated to resemble the desired animal.

The forward portion of the body is provided with a head support 12' integral with the body portion and angularly positioned with respect thereto to receive any head desired.

The leash handle in this form is made of a twisted pair of spring wires 11' and is in the form of a wide ogee curve as in the first modification and is attached to the body by means of a bolt or equivalent fastening 34.

In the second modification no supporting wheel is used, the toy being manipulated close to floor level solely by hand manipulation.

The third form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 13 to 19. In this form the head and tail or either are operated to simulate a walking or trotting animal by a supporting wheel similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 9.

In appearance the animal figure is quite similar to that shown in FIG. 1. The rotatably supporting wheel 40 is supported from the frame 42 by a bracket 44 on suitable bearings 45. The head 46 and tail 47 are hingedly supported on the frame at points 48 and 49 respectively. Extending inwardly beyond the hinge points are extension 50 and 51. Extending between these members 50 and 51 is an elastic band 54. Eccentrically mounted on the wheel at 56 is a non-stretchable member 57 having one end eccentrically mounted on the wheel 4 at 40' and the other end engaging the elastic member 51 for depressing the member as the member 57 is moved up and down. The handle 58 is of semi-rigid construction in order to push the toy along.

In operation the toy is pushed along the street or pavement supported on the rotating wheel 40 as the wheel rolls along the member 57 engaging the elastic member 51 is moved up and down causing the head and tail to also move in a slightly vertical plane simulating the bobbing of the head and tail of an animal trotting along on a leash.

The wheel 45 shown in FIG. 19 may be used with first form as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. This wheel is provided with member 46 attached preferably evenly about the rim of the wheel. This gives the toy a balancing motion as it is pushed along the street or ground simulating the trotting motion of an animal.

The leash 58 is substantially the same as used in the other species which is of sufficient rigidity to keep the toy upright and project the toy out in front of the operator.

Having described preferred forms of my invention in detail, what I claim is:

1. An animal toy comrising:

a. a body portion simulating an animal having an independent movable head and tail;

b. the body portion of the toy having at least a single wheel mounted on the underside of the body for supporting the same, said wheel being provided with a plurality of raised portions about its circumference to cause the figure to be oscillated up and down to simulate a walking and trotting action thereof;

c. means connected to the wheel for oscillating the head and tail on an axis in a plane parallel with the axis of the wheel;

d. a handle portion attached to the upper forward portion of the body and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, said handle portion formed to simulate a leash attached to the body of the animal figure, said handle portion being composed of a stiff material whereby the toy may be supported in an upright perpendicular position by said handle whereby the latter is manipulatable to impart a simulated walking and trotting motion to the animal figure;

e. means are provided for connecting the head and tail members and means eccentrically mounted on said wheel and connected to the member connecting the head and tail wherein the head and tail members are oscillated relative to the body portion as the supporting wheel is rotated.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the means connecting the head and tail members is of a flexible material. 

1. An animal toy comrising: a. a body portion simulating an animal having an independent movable head and tail; b. the body portion of the toy having at least a single wheel mounted on the underside of the body for supporting the same, said wheel being provided with a plurality of raised portions about its circumference to cause the figure to be oscillated up and down to simulate a walking and trotting action thereof; c. means connected to the wheel for oscillating the head and tail on an axis in a plane parallel with the axis of the wheel; d. a handle portion attached to the upper forward portion of the body and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, said handle portion formed to simulate a leash attached to the body of the animal figure, said handle portion being composed of a stiff material whereby the toy may be supported in an upright perpendicular position by said handle whereby the latter is manipulatable to impart a simulated walking and trotting motion to the animal figure; e. means are provided for connecting the head and tail members and means eccentrically mounted on said wheel and connected to the member connecting the head and tail wherein the head and tail members are oscillated relative to the body portion as the supporting wheel is rotated.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the means connecting the head and tail members is of a flexible materIal. 